---

Power Failure end's Hagerstown Speedway's Second Attempt at Season Opener

Hagerstown, MD (4/9/23)- Just a week removed from persistent evening rain that cancelled the tracks season opener last Saturday night, Maryland’s Hagerstown Speedway was back in action this past weekend. A four division show featuring the Late Model Sportsman, Semi Lates, Pure Stocks and Classic Cars was on the docket with a clear weather forecast. The pits were full with 76 race cars and a good crowd had assembled for the highly anticipated event. Qualifying went off without a hitch, but as the Classic Cars were on their parade lap to get the features started, the front stretch lights lost power due to a faulty transformer which quickly red-flagged the field. As time wore on, the hard decision to cancel the remainder of the program was the tracks only option, as power wouldn’t be able to be restored in a timely manner. All the feature fields were set through the heat races and make-up dates have been posted on the tracks Website and Facebook page.
Hagerstown Notes-
Checking into the pit area on Saturday were 24 Late Model Sportsman, 16 Semi Lates, 26 Pure Stocks and 10 Classic Cars. LM Sportsman racer Jonathan Raley’s night ended as quickly as it started as he suffered mechanical issues with his Battle Chassis no.25 during hot-laps, scratching the car for the remainder of the program…Defending track champion Cody Kersher, Justin Dillman and Kyle Lear took LMS heat races…”It’s been a great start to the season for us.” Were the words from Port Royal Pa’s Devin Hart on his quick start to the 2023 season. “We really haven’t done anything different from last year, but we’ve been good wherever we’ve gone this year.” To date Hart has steered his Rocket no.33 to wins at Winchester (VA) Speedway and two wins in his home state with tallies and Port Royal and Bedford. Late Model ace Jamie Lathroum was on hand with his infamous Rocket no.6 for Oliver racing, and would time fastest in hot laps and then take second in his qualifier to winner Kyle Lear. 2022 winners-Cody Kershner (3), Kyle Lear (2), Devin Hart (2), Justin Weaver (1), Jeff King (1), Jonathan DeHaven (1) and Spike Moore (SCN 1).
Semi Late qualifiers went to Jason Stoner and Chuckie Johnson. The second Semi Late heat race was worth the price of admission as Johnson held off 4-time 2022 winner Jasen Geesaman to take the win by a whisker at the stripe. Johnson’s no.4 is the same car that carried Dylan Rutherford to the 2021 Winchester track title…After a career season that included the 2 feature wins and the Semi Late track title, Mike Grady Jr was noticeably absent from the program. Shane Wilt was not on hand with his familiar no.2+2 as the car was severely wounded the Saturday prior. 2022 winners-Cody Kershner (5), Jasen Geesaman (4), Mike Grady Jr (2), Brian Booze (1), Greg Diehl (1), Tyler Dietz (SCN 1) and Deakon Snyder (1).
Scoring Pure Stock heat wins were, defending track champion Dylan Beavers, Devin Thomas and Nathaniel Younker. Beavers stated at the end of his title run last season that he may move up to the Semi Late’s or LMS for 2023, however those plans have not come to fruition yet…Winchester regular Randy Linaburg was on hand for the show and took third in his qualifying event…Nathaniel Younker, point runner-up from 2022, was quite dominant as he won his heat race by a wide margin over Nick Fogle. 2022 feature winners-Dylan Beavers (4), James Speelman (2), Nick Fogle (2), Mike Fuller (2), Codey Breeden (2), Kristopher Hutton (SCN 1) and Cody Sumption (1).

---

Back to News